Kevin Ollie

Just had a nice talk with George Blaney in the hotel lobby. One of our topics was Kevin Ollie ... The Huskies, who had a late afternoon flight with a connection, got to Tampa about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday night. Breakfast about 10 a.m. today, and a noon-ish shoot-around over at the St. Pete Times Forum. Assistant coach Kevin Ollie was in the Philadelphia area watching a few high school games, and took a 6 a.m. flight to Tampa on Wednesday, getting here just in time for the workout.

Jim Calhoun will be joining ESPN's college basketball broadcast team. Calhoun, who retired as UConn coach in September 2012 after 26 seasons and three national championships, will do most of his work in Bristol, ESPN's home base, providing studio analysis, a network source, requesting anonymity, told The Courant. Calhoun, 72, will occasionally travel to games and contribute to "SportsCenter. " . The hiring was first reported by TheBigLead.com. Since retiring, Calhoun has worked at UConn in an advisory capacity, helping in fundraising and appearing at speaking engagements.

By DOM AMORE, damore@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, October 18, 2013

STORRS — There seemed to be a little more electricity inside and outside Gampel Pavilion as the place filled for First Night. Maybe the weather was part of it, or a new idea, a men's-women's mixed scrimmage, drew a few more fans out. Or, most likely, it was the expectations surrounding the men's program, as well as the women's. "I know fans are expecting great things from us," coach Kevin Ollie said, "and the women's program as well, with nearly all of our players coming back.

DeAndre Daniels' pro career has reached a minor stumbling block. He had surgery to remove "a small bone fragment from his right elbow," according to the Perth Wildcats website . Daniels tweeted Monday that the surgery went well. The Raptors chose Daniels, who left UConn after his junior season and the national championship, in the second round of the draft, the 37th pick. After the summer league, it was arranged for him to go to Australia, where he will play for the Perth team, while Toronto retain his NBA rights.

UConn men's basketballcoach Jim Calhoun Calhoun has said that "our future" will be announced at the end of the college basketball season, which could mean this week. Will he come back for a 27th year? Or will UConn name a new coach? And will that new coach be Calhoun's assistant, Kevin Ollie, or a more proven head coach? Your thoughts? NEWS AND VIEWS Coach-In-Waiting - Good Idea Or Bad For UConn Men? Hartford Courant Passionate Calhoun Unlikely To Leave Danbury News Times NCAA ban would keep Connecticut out of Big East tournament USA Today Jim Calhoun Will Announce Future After Final Four Middletown Press

UConn men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun retired in September, making it clear he wanted his assistant Kevin Ollie to be his successor. Ollie was given a seven-month contract. Should he get a longer-term contract soon? NEWS AND VIEWS It's time for UConn to give Kevin Ollie a real contract The UConn blog, Nov. 29 UConn is wise to be patient before committing Yahoo sports blog, Dec. 6 The effect of Ollie's one-year contract on recruiting UConn men's basketball blog, Hearst Connecticut, Dec. 5

Age: 40 Years at UConn: Second season Record at UConn: 20-10 Was he a player? Led Crenshaw High in Los Angeles to the California Division I state title. At UConn (1991-95), he graduated as the career assists leader. Played with 12 teams in 13-year NBA career. Hobby: Golf Family: Wife, Stephanie, whom he met as a sophomore at UConn; son Jalen, 17, who plays quarterback at Glastonbury High; daughter, Cheyenne. His mother, Dorothy, is an ordained minister.

If Kevin Ollie is looking for the highest endorsement possible, he needn't stop at Jim Calhoun. He can find it with one of Calhoun's natural-born adversaries. Rick Pitino says that hiring Ollie as the permanent UConn basketball coach was a "no-brainer. " "I don't know the new athletic director [Warde Manuel], but I can say this: There's not a coach in the country Connecticut can hire that's better than Kevin Ollie," the Louisville coach said Wednesday at Big East Media Day. "He's extremely bright.

By COLIN MCDONOUGH, cmcdonough@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, June 18, 2014

CROMWELL — Since winning the national championship in April, UConn coach Kevin Ollie said recruits look at his men's basketball team "like a pretty girl now, walking the streets. " But at the Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am on Wednesday, it was Ollie getting all the attention. He played 18 holes while signing autographs and posed for photos with fans. "This is a great event. Travelers does so much more than just throwing this golf event; what they do for the community with the proceeds is awesome," Ollie said.

By DOM AMORE, damore@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, December 29, 2012

HARTFORD - When Kevin Ollie took over as UConn men's basketball coach, he needed to believe. First in himself, that he could step in for Jim Calhoun and establish his leadership with a short-term contract, and, second, that he would be rewarded in due time. "That's the key word, 'belief,'" Ollie said. "An idea is something that has no legs under it. A belief is something you know is going to happen. I had a belief in Warde Manuel giving me a fair shake, a belief in my coaching staff and, first and foremost, a belief in my players that we could get it done, and defy all odds.

By DOM AMORE, damore@courant.com and By DOM AMORE, damore@courant.com, August 9, 2014

NEW YORK - A year ago, Steve Enoch of Norwalk was a relatively unknown basketball prospect - even within Connecticut. "I worked hard all last summer," Enoch was saying Friday morning as he and other top recruits were gathering in the Bronx for the Big Strick Classic. "After our whole AAU season, I did well in the high school year, and I played well against a lot of these guys. " Suddenly Enoch, 6 feet 9 and about 220 pounds, was in the top 100 and rising toward the top 50 among 2015 recruits and began drawing interest from major basketball programs - including the national champions from his home state.

GLASTONBURY - UConn, the reigning NCAA champion, will be a different team when the season begins in November. In some ways, that should be a good thing. Amida Brimah, the 7-foot center, will have a year's experience and shoulder surgery behind him, and coach Kevin Ollie is seeing growth. "His development, and how he pushes himself, is something I've never seen," Ollie said before teeing off for his Charity Golf Classic on Monday at Glastonbury Hills CC. Brimah played in all 40 games as a freshman, averaging 4.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.

From The Dream Season to the Hungry Huskies, more than three dozen players and coaches from various UConn men's basketball teams will gather at Mohegan Sun Arena Friday night for Jim Calhoun's Charity All-Star Classic. Some names listed on the tentative roster: Andre Drummond, Kemba Walker, Ray Allen, Rudy Gay, Rip Hamilton, Ben Gordon, Shabazz Napier, DeAndre Daniels, Khalid El-Amin, Jeremy Lamb, Donny Marshall, Donyell Marshall, Rod Sellers and Lasan Kromah. From the Dream Season, the first UConn team to make a long NCAA Tournament run for Calhoun in 1990: Scott Burrell and Lyman DePriest.

The worst scenario materialized for Giants running back David Wilson . Two doctors advised him to retire from football, deeming the risk regarding his neck and spine condition too great. The Giants placed him on IR. "I don't want anybody to feel sorry for me or pity me," Wilson, 23, said in a statement released by the Giants. "I lived my dream. A lot of people only get to dream their dream. I lived that dream. Now I have a chance to dream another dream and live that, too. " One can't help but admire someone like that, and root for him. Richard Sherman says pay no mind to his Twitter wars with Patrick Peterson of the Cardinals.

GREENWICH — The children sat on the grass, counted down from 100, and then sang songs to await his arrival. When the tall, very thin man appeared in loose-fitting, spartan clothing, he quickly got their attention. Doron Sheffer, one of the great players in UConn basketball history, spoke for about 15 minutes on knowing "how to win and how to lose. " Then Sheffer took part in a father-and-son basketball game. The kids, who had only a vague notion of who he is, were delighted.

By DOM AMORE, damore@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, August 2, 2014

EAST GRANBY - Ray Allen could play one more year in the NBA. He is wanted, and he knows it. Or he could retire with no regrets, all business finished. All the years of solid play and diligent work at conditioning have put him, at age 39, in this rare position - to script his own ending, and take his time doing it. “I'm not in any rush [to make a decision],” Allen said, during a break in the Citi Ray Allen Basketball Procamp at East Granby High on Saturday morning. “I've played 18 years, and the way I look at my career, I'm content with everything that I've done.

STORRS - The words arrived 11 minutes into Kevin Ollie's introductory speech and they have carried so much impact since the day he was named UConn basketball coach that even his captain is taking them literally. "As I embark on this journey, I want to say we're going to take the stairs and not the escalator," Ollie said on Sept. 13 at Gampel Pavilion. "The escalator's for cowards. We're going to take the stairs. It's going to be … one … step … at a time and we're going to get there.

By DOM AMORE, damore@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, September 14, 2012

STORRS — This was day one of the new phase in Kevin Ollie's life, the phase he calls his dream job. Like most of his days, it started early. "Four a.m.," Ollie said, pinpointing the moment he got out of bed. "Then I met with my trainer. " By 5 a.m., Ollie began the predawn workout. He is no longer a professional athlete, but is, in a sense, training for a marathon. He warned his wife, Stephanie, that he might not see her until April, and he was only half kidding. Friday was Ollie's first full day as UConn's basketball coach, and it was going to be a long one. In his first sacrifice, he had to miss a morning ritual, walking his daughter, Cheyenne, to the bus stop.

The All Pro Sports Shabazz Napier Camp was in full force on July 28. Napier hosted the camp and taught fundamentals of basketball to youth. "I'm letting them know this is basketball and it's made to be fun," said Napier. "Later on in life they'll understand it's more about business, but right now it's just for fun. " "The camp was sponsored by the South Windsor Parks and Recreation in conjunction with All Pro Sports of Windsor Locks. It was open to boys and girls ages 8 to 16. About 100 participants attended the weeklong camp at Nomad's Adventure Quest's basketball gym. The campers participated in several morning stations separated by age, lectures, drills, and games throughout the day. Director of Recreation Ray Favreau put his full trust in Tim Leahy, Owner of All Pro Sports, and Napier.

By NICK GREENE, ngreene@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, July 22, 2014

WATERBURY — Most of what Pat Lenehan has done for UConn over the past three years has gone unnoticed. He never makes the highlight reel and rarely does his name find its way into the box score — but the Huskies made sure Lenehan knows he is appreciated. The 6-foot-3 guard from Cheshire recently found out he wouldn't be just a walk-on anymore when coach Kevin Ollie announced that Lenehan would spend his senior season on scholarship. "I just found out about [the scholarship]